Barry O’Brien Attached to New IDW Crime Procedural

IDW Entertainment has signed writer and producer Barry O’Brien to serve as showrunner and writer for a psychological crime series based on Jonathan Kellerman’s top-selling Alex Delaware book franchise.

O’Brien has worked as a screenwriter and producer on series ranging from Judging Amy to CSI: Miami, Castle and The Following. Most recently, he served as showrunner of Gone, starring Chris Noth.

There are more than 80 million Alex Delaware books in print globally. The central character is a forensic psychologist who works with the LAPD to assist in solving murder cases. He is partnered with Milo Sturgis, a gay homicide detective.

IDW Entertainment (IDWE), which controls the worldwide entertainment rights to the Alex Delaware series, is developing the show as a straight-to-series run.

“Barry understands what makes Delaware different than other psychological thriller series is the extra dimensions of being a whydunit on top of a whodunit,” said Kellerman. “He has the skills and experience to translate my novels into compelling television.”

“With his deep knowledge and experience working on some of TV’s most successful procedural formats, Barry O’Brien encapsulates the fresh approach we’re after in developing this compelling, psychological drama based on the titular character of Alex Delaware—a psychologist whose masterful ability to reach the psychic natures of crime has captivated book audience’s worldwide,” said David Ozer, the president of IDWE.

“Jonathan Kellerman has created some of crime fiction’s most complex, fascinating and lyrical characters, and it is an absolute honor to partner with him to bring Alex to the small screen along with Milo, Robin and all the other characters who populate the vivid world of Alex Delaware’s Los Angeles,” commented O’Brien. “I’m very excited to be collaborating with Jonathan, working alongside David and Adam Salzman, Ted Adams, David Ozer and Lydia Antonini, as well as the full support of the IDW Entertainment team.”